Ancient Meteorite Iron Uncovered in 3,000-Year-Old Spanish Artifacts
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Spanish researchers discovered two 3,000-year-old iron artifacts containing extraterrestrial iron from meteorites estimated to be 1 million years old.
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The artifacts were part of the Villena Treasure hoard uncovered in Spain in 1963.
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Analysis showed the meteoritic iron compositions in both artifacts were remarkably similar, suggesting they came from the same meteorite.
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Using meteoritic iron in the ancient world is not unprecedented, but suggests innovative metallurgy techniques during the Bronze Age when terrestrial iron smelting was rare.
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The scientists are trying to pinpoint the origins of the meteoritic material found in these two artifacts.